Tips for Writing Children’s Books: How to Incorporate “The Slow Reveal”
In life most people become more complex as we get to know them. This should also be true for characters in children’s books. At a conference I recently attended, Lyron Bennett, editor for Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, called it “the slow reveal”. It means investing your characters with enough varied qualities that some can be withheld until called for in the plot.
Getting it Right for Kid’s Books
Second to a bad review—and I was smarting from several of those—nothing scares a newly published author more than being told she’s gotten her facts wrong.
What If You Have Stage Fright?
If you are nervous about speaking in public, you are not alone – lots of people HATE to stand up and speak in front of a group of people, especially strangers. In some surveys, people have indicated that they would rather get cancer than speak in public!
If you are worried about public speaking, start small. [...]
Why Authors Should Do School Visits
One important benefit of author school visits is that schools pay authors to present programs to the students. If you don’t need the money, is there any reason to do author visits to schools?
First of all, breathes there an author/illustrator who does NOT need the money?
However, if you are one of the fortunate few who [...]
How Much Are Authors Paid for School Visits?
My stipend has increased over time. When I began, I charged $300/day. That included 4-5 programs of 45-minutes each, plus autographing and lunch with selected students.
Over time, I raised my rates – usually by $50-100 each year. Today, with 9 books in print and a decade of experience as a visiting author, I average about [...]
Author School Visits and Book Sales
Most schools offer books for sale to students and faculty while an author/illustrator is on campus. For the children and faculty who can afford to buy a book, this is a special souvenir of your visit.
Where does the school get a supply of your books? The media specialist may:
order books directly from the publisher
ask a [...]
How Do Authors Prepare for School Visits?
In addition to creating a program, there are other things authors should do to prepare for a school visit.
I usually exchange at least 4 emails or phone calls with the person who is arranging my visit…
I ask to see the day’s schedule so I can make suggestions, like grouping children by age/grade and allowing [...]
What Do Authors Do During School Visits?
One good way to develop a school program is by watching what other author/illustrators do. Call the media specialists at schools in your area to see if they are hosting a visit, and ask if you can join the audience.
You will discover that many authors/illustrators talk about their experience (their creating/publishing “journey”) – how their [...]
The ABCs of Author School Visits
As soon as my first book was published, I began visiting classrooms, schools, and libraries to talk to young readers about writing. I’m a former teacher and a mom, and my colleagues – as well as my children’s teachers – invited me to speak to their students and library patrons. At first, these visits were [...]
5 Ways Teachers and Parents are Self-Publishing for Kids
Everyone wants to be an author these days. With the proliferation of print-on-demand technology and instant availability worldwide through e-retailers like Amazon.com, why not? Approximately 200,000 books will be published this year; one of them could be written by you. Many writers seek fame and fortune; others long to share their memories with their families; [...]
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Resources and information for authors, self-publishers, independent publishers and other interested in writing, publishing and selling books and ebooks.
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